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Should Usman Khawaja be in the Test XI next summer for the Ashes?
Nic Negrepontis • January 2nd, 2025 10:47 am
Veteran Australian cricket journalist Peter Lalor doesn’t believe Usman Khawaja should open the batting next summer.
With an Ashes series looming this time next year and ageing XI, Lalor would like to see the Aussies begin the transition to the next generation, particularly given Khawaja’s lacklustre form of late.
Lalor believes the 38-year-old should likely go on to play the Tests in Sri Lanka and potentially even the World Test Championship, he feels that should be the end for the Queenslander.
“I think if he wants to go on (to play against Sri Lanka) they’ll let him go on. I’m starting to think it’s time for some transition,” Lalor told SEN Breakfast.
“I can’t see him playing in the Ashes next summer. I don’t think he’s the right player for the Ashes. I think he’d be fine in Sri Lanka and he probably deserves a World Test Championship place, should they get there. He’s been part of getting them there.
“But I feel like they need to start looking at a transition in that cricket team and Usman is the obviously place to start. Smith is up and about again, Marnus is showing a bit and not as far into his career as Usman.
“There was talk of using Travis Head to open in Sri Lanka, they’re considering a few interesting options for Sri Lanka that could even include the include the likes of Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell.
“I don’t know what the selectors will do. They tend to be very consistent and stick with the same players and reward them for the efforts they’ve made in the past. It’s hard to argue against that on some levels.”
Khawaja has one score above 30 so far in the Test summer, making 57 in the first innings of the Boxing Day Test.
You’ll hear every ball of the Sydney Test live on SEN and the SEN App!
Listen to the full chat with Pete Lalor on SEN Breakfast below
